TV Series: Hannibal

Yesterday I finally began to watch the television series "Hannibal". It should come as no surprise to my readers that I've waited so long. It's usual for me to wait to watch a series until it's completed, so that I can watch it all in one go. On the other hand, I rarely do watch a series in one session. I started watching "Lost" when it was complete, but I'm only watching one season a year in mini-binges, so what's the point in me waiting? I never claimed to be logical.

I can understand "Hannibal" in the minds of the television studios. In the minds of the bosses who understand cash flow more than art, "Hannibal" was intended to be a replacement for "Dexter", which was in its final season as "Hannibal" began. It's another series about someone who works for the police who has a personal life as a psychopath. Of course, there are countless differences between the two series. The only one I'll point out here is that Dexter Morgan was presented as a likeable psychopath, someone who has learnt to channel his urges to a good purpose, whereas Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a repulsive monster, someone who merely kills for fun. Or maybe we're supposed to like him? After only a few episodes I haven't seen him being glamorised.

I haven't read the original novels, so I don't know how much has been invented for television, but the series gives much more of a backstory that fleshes out the main characters. When I saw "Red Dragon" I thought that Edward Norton was the perfect representation of Will Graham, but after seeing Hugh Dancy in the television series I had to change my mind. As for Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter, I have to say that despite the different face and different accent, he's the same character as Anthony Hopkins. It's difficult to decide between the two of them, they're identical.

The relationship between the two men is morbidly fascinating. Will trusts Hannibal implicitly, while Hannibal is trying to manipulate Will. I expect the relationship will change further into the series, when Will begins to realise who Hannibal really is, but I enjoy seeing them as they are now, after five episodes of the first season.

As I understand it, the series hasn't been definitively cancelled. Even though it ended in 2015 after three seasons, there are attempts to revive it, possibly sponsored by Amazon. Let's wait and see. Based on the evidence of the first few episodes it deserves a resurrection.

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